Train firm criticised for Sunday service 'farce'

Rail company London Midland came in for heavy criticism yesterday after it was forced to cancel all but one of its Sunday services because not enough staff volunteered to work.

The problem arose after an agreement under which staff were paid double time to work on Sundays expired last week. Trains on almost all of its routes were idle yesterday, leaving thousands of passengers stranded or delayed.

The Rail Maritime and Transport Union called on the company to address staffing problems "as a matter of urgency". London Midland said it would meet the RMT this week "to get to the bottom" of the issue.

Some passengers were able to travel on rival firms' services or bus replacements, but Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrats' transport spokesman, said: "This is a farcical situation. To attempt to run a full timetable without knowing how many drivers are going to turn up is crass management. This must never happen again."